| Acts 26:17-18 17 Delivering you from the [Jewish] people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I [Jesus] now send you, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, release from sin's slavery, and an inheritance among those who are purified by faith in me.'2 [Paul also wrote in the book of Galatians: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed [anathema, sentenced to eternal punishment]. As we said before, so I say again now: if any man preaches any gospel to you other than what you have received, let him be accursed." Gal 1:8-9. And so the preachers and teachers of today's Christianity would be eternally cursed by Paul for preaching an entirely different gospel than the true gospel.] | 1 John 3:8,5:18 8 He who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God is revealed [in us], that he might destroy [in us] the works [sin] of the devil.4 [Let no man deceive you, saying that you can still be sinning and belong to God; those still sinning serve the devil. Christ is revealed in our flesh to destroy the works of the devil, by condemning the secret sins in our heart, and then destroying even our desire to sin. Paul confirms Jesus destroying the works of the devil in each purified believer: "the God of peace shall crush Satan under your feet shortly." Rom 16:20.] 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; instead God protects the one he has fathered, and the wicked one does not touch him.5 [The one whom God has fathered is a new creature, who is the believer with Christ resurrected within him; both then are raised to the heavens, to sit down in Christ, who never fell. He cannot fall to sin again because God protects him. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:29. Those born again live in heaven, but they also still walk the earth with Christ dwelling within them and guiding them with all words to speak and all deeds to be performed.] | Luke 4:18-19 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor [in Spirit]; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted [who mourn due to their slavery to sin], to preach release to the captives [imprisoned in the world's darkness and slavery to sin], and recovery of sight to the [spiritually] blind, to deliver [free] those who are oppressed [in slavery to sin],2 [The gospel is the ministry of the Spirit to totally free you from sin, as you repent from your old ways of selfishness on the inward cross of self-denial; to be washed, cleansed, and purified; to then be translated into the kingdom of Christ; and then to live in union with Christ and God, while on earth and then forever.] | John 8:31-32,36 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you continue in my word [not the Bible, but teachings and commands heard from Jesus speaking directly to you], then you are truly my disciples; [If you continue to wait, watch, and listen to Jesus, who is the word and light within your heart, you are a true disciple, who will produce the fruit of the Spirit, who will be guided into all truth, and then who will have become free of all sin.] 32 And [then] you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."4 [You will only know the truth to become free "If you continue in my word," as verse 31 above states; the way is to continue in His word, which word is not the Bible but the word that is in your heart and mouth to obey. The truth is in the life of God, (who is Jesus), which life is light, which light is the anointing, which is truth. Jesus is the life and the truth, and when you fully possess Him, (the word, the anointing, the light, the life, the truth), He will set you free from the bondage of sin so that sin no longer controls you and is not even desirable; instead you will be guided by God with every word to speak and every deed to be done — that is being free, free from the bondage and slavery to sin.] 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you are truly free.6 | Romans 6:18,22 18 Having then been set free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.7 [He is speaking to very mature Christians, who have suffered on the cross to be free with sin; but they can still fall to temptation if they are not watchful because they have not received the second step of perfection: to be born of God and unable to sin again because the Father protects them. 1 John 3:9, 1 John 5:18, John 10:29. A slave of righteousness does only what he is ordered to do and says only what he hears from the Spirit immediately before speaking.] 22 But now being made free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have the fruit [reward] of holiness, and at the end, everlasting life.9 [To be a slave to God does not mean you go to Bible College or Seminary; that would be totally counter productive. To be a slave to God is to follow the Spirit's continual guidance and commands that you hear and see — but to your supreme joy of sharing in his works of love. Every word and every action is virtuous and perfect because God prompts them; you are doing his will on earth as it is done in heaven by the angels, as you remain in whatever is your current, honest occupation. See this verse's footnote for a more detailed explanation.] | Colossians 3:5 5 Therefore mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body that are of the earthly life: fornication, impurity, inordinate affections, evil lusts of the flesh, and covetousness, which is idolatry.4 | Titus 2:13-14 13 As we receive the blessed fulfillment of our hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, [The great God, the Father, and our Savior, Jesus Christ, are revealed as they come and make their home in the hearts of who love and obey Jesus. John 14:23. From the Word of the Lord within: "The second coming is a personal experience. The second coming is in the hearts of purified believers."] 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity [lawless deeds, sin], and purify for himself a people who are his very own, zealous for good works.1 [Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh [the sinful nature] with its passions and desires [lusts and affections], Gal 5:24, to become pure. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27. From the Word of the Lord within: "If you are still sinning, you belong to sin and not to Me."] | |||